Women's Cycling Weekly issue 59
A weekly curation of women's cycling news and content straight to your inbox
Hello! Welcome to Women’s Cycling Weekly issue 59🚴♀️
I’ve never considered myself particularly adept at tactical analysis. I was so rarely able to actively participate beyond holding on for dear life when I was racing that I never learned much in the way of tactics. Even watching races, I have never been particularly good at reading what’s happening. When my far more knowledgable Freewheeling co-hosts delve into the tactics of whatever race we are covering that week I often just listen quietly.
Even I could see, however, that the last few races have been…puzzling. I’m loath to slag off tactics women’s racing because I know that it’s a common refrain used by those who like to think they’re pointing out its flaws and reasons for its inferiority to men’s. That’s clearly not what I’m saying but both Binda and De Panne left me scratching my head at times. Advocating for growth and equality in women’s cycling also includes being able to view races and tactics critically and I guess that’s what I’m doing. I’m sure someone’s going to come and tell me I’m wrong, this is the internet after all.
Anyway, answers on a postcard if you think I’m talking rubbish x
News 📰
Details of the new Tour of Scandinavia have been announced (renamed from ‘Battle of the North’ in light of the Ukraine war). It’s a six-stage WorldTour race taking place across Denmark, Sweden and Norway in August, and it replaces the Ladies Tour of Norway.
Dutch U23 team NXTG Racing have become AG Insurance-NXTG and joined forces with men’s outfit Quickstep-AlphaVinyl. They’re aiming for a spot in the WorldTour in 2023.
Canyon//SRAM’s Chloe Dygert has been diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus, and will miss the upcoming Classics races - though the team are hopeful for a speedy return.
A few badly-timed crashes affected yesterday’s Brugge-De Panne. Lorena Wiebes sprinted to second with a broken spoke, whilst winner Elisa Balsamo only became Trek’s designated sprinter in the final 2km after Chloe Hosking was held up by a crash.
Results 🏆
Trofeo Alfredo Binda
Elisa Balsamo (TFS)
Sofia Bertizzolo (UAD)
Soraya Paladin (WMN)
Exterioo Classic Brugge-De Panne
Elisa Balsamo (TFS)
Lorena Wiebes (DSM)
Marta Bastianelli (UAD)
Upcoming Races 📆
Road
27th March: Gent-Wevelgem (1.WWT)
Starts 13.50 CET, finishes ~18.15 CET
Watch on Eurosport/GCN from 16.15 CET
Startlist here
Preview here
30th March: Dwars door Vlaanderen (1.Pro)
Starts 12.00 CET, finishes ~15.15 CET
Watch on Eurosport/GCN from 12.30 CET
MTB
26th-27th March: UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Lourdes - DHI #1
Qualifying on Saturday
Junior finals 10.30 CET on Sunday, elite finals 12.30 CET
Watch on RedBull TV from 12.25 CET
Read 🗞️
Lizzy Banks on prize money and her concussion rehab.
“From the cobbles to the classroom” Flora Perkins of Le Col - Wahoo on balancing racing and school.
Elisa Balsamo on Trek-Segafredo’s ability to control the racing.
Listen 🎧
On this week’s Freewheeling we analysed the tactics (or lack thereof??) at Trofeo Alfredo Binda and discussed what a women’s Milan Sanremo might look like.
🐶🤌
That’s all 👋
Thanks for reading Women’s Cycling Weekly!
If you liked what you read you can buy WCW a ‘coffee’ on Ko-Fi.
Until next time!
Thanks Amy and all. Having a chance to here women discuss womens racing and women’ cycling-specific issues allows me to broaden (deepen?) my fandom and be more engaged.